different between impotent vs impuissant

English

Etymology

From Old French impotent, from Latin impot?ns, from in- (expresses negation) + pot?ns (“powerful”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??m.p?.t?nt/, /??m.p?.t?nt/

Adjective

impotent (comparative more impotent, superlative most impotent)

1. lacking physical strength or vigor; weak

   Synonyms: feeble, puny, weak

2. lacking in power, as to act effectively; helpless
   • 1984', Freeman J. Dyson, Weapons and Hope

     Technology without morality is barbarous; morality without technology is impotent

   Synonyms: helpless, powerless

3. incapable of sexual intercourse, often because of an inability to achieve or sustain an erection
4. (of a male) sterile
5. (obsolete) lacking self-restraint

   Synonym: incontinent

Antonyms

• potent

Related terms

• impotence

Translations

Noun

impotent (plural impotents)

1. a man who has erectile dysfunction

   Synonym: wet noodle

   Antonym: priapist

2. an impotent or powerless person

Catalan

Etymology

From Latin impot?ns.

Adjective

impotent (masculine and feminine plural impotents)

1. (medicine) impotent
2. impotent, powerless, helpless

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??.p?.t??/
• Homophone: impotents

Adjective

impotent (feminine singular impotente, masculine plural impotents, feminine plural impotentes)

1. infirm, disabled
2. impotent

Middle French

Adjective

impotent m (feminine singular impotente, masculine plural impotens, feminine plural impotentes)

1. impotent (incapable of sexual intercourse)

Polish

Etymology

From Latin impot?ns.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /im?p?.t?nt/

Noun

impotent m pers

1. (pathology) impotent (man who has erectile dysfunction)

Declension

Related terms

• (noun) impotencja

Further reading

• impotent in Wielki s?ownik j?zyka polskiego, Instytut J?zyka Polskiego PAN
• impotent in Polish dictionaries at PWN

Romanian

Etymology

From French impotent, from Latin impotens.

Adjective

impotent m or n (feminine singular impotent?, masculine plural impoten?i, feminine and neuter plural impotente)

1. impotent

Declension

English

Etymology

French, from prefix im- (“not”) + puissant. See puissant.

Adjective

impuissant (comparative more impuissant, superlative most impuissant)

1. weak; impotent; feeble

French

Etymology

From im- +? puissant.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??.p?i.s??/
• Homophone: impuissants

Adjective

impuissant (feminine singular impuissante, masculine plural impuissants, feminine plural impuissantes)

1. impotent, powerless

Noun

impuissant m (plural impuissants)

1. an impotent man

Further reading

• “impuissant” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).